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Coleoptera of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Species Pages
Family Histeridae
Tribe Paromalini
Xestipyge geminatum (LeConte)
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Description and Taxonomy
Length 2.8-3.0 mm. The genus belongs to the tribe Paromalini, which is characterized by more or less dorsoventrally flattened bodies, expanded tibiae, expanded pro-, but not meso- and metatibiae, presence of a narrow prosternal lobe with a "lock" for the protibial spur, short epistoma and a long basal piece of the aedeagus (Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt 1976, Mazur 1993, Caterino & Vogler 2002). Among the genera of Paromalini, Xestipyge may be diagnosed by the full set of dorsal striae, the presence of a connection between 4th and sutural striae and female pygidial ornamentation. Xestipyge geminatum differs from the other congener in GSMNP by concave elytral intervals and a more densely punctured metasternum.
Life History
This life history of the species is poorly known. It has been collected occasionally on carrion, in tree holes and in leaf litter (Bousquet & Laplante 2006). Some species of Xestipyge are known to live in mammal (vole, pack rat, marmot) and ant nests (Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt 1976, Kovarik & Caterino 2000, 2005, Tishechkin, unpublished). The GSMNP specimens were collected by flight intercept trapping at 600-630 m of elevation.
Distribution
Widespread in eastern N America, from Ontario and Quebec to Florida and Texas (Bousquet & Laplante 2006).
Conservation Concerns
Not under threat.
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Locality records in GSMNP. |
Acknowledgements
Development of these pages was supported by grants from Discover Life in America and the National Science Foundation (DEB-0516311).
References
Bousquet, Y. and S. Laplante. 2006. Coleoptera Histeridae. The insects and arachnids of Canada. Part 24. NRC Research press, Ottawa. 485 pp.
Caterino, M. S. and A. P. Vogler. 2002. The phylogeny of the Histeroidea (Cleoptera: Staphyliniformia). Cladistics 18: 394-415.
Kovarik, P.W. and M. S. Caterino. 2000. Histeridae. Pp. 212-227 in: Arnett, R. H. and M. C. Thomas (eds.) American beetles. Vol. 1. CRC Press, Boca Raton - London - New York - Washington.
Kovarik, P.W. and M. S. Caterino. 2005. Histeridae. Pp. 190-222 in: Beutel, R. and R. A. B. Leschen (eds.) Handbuch der Zoologie. Vol. IV (38). Walter de Gruyter: Berlin - New York.
Mazur, S. 1993. Notes on new and little known oriental Histeridae (Col.). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 100: 211-219.
Kryzhanovskij, O. L. and A. N. Reichardt. 1976. Histeroidea. fauna of the USSR. Vol. V (4). Nauka: Moscow - Leneingrad. 433 pp.
Posted 13 August 2007, A. K. Tishechkin, Louisiana State Arthropod Museum.
